The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) - I had seen Hunchback once before, and had forgotten how great it is. Yes, it makes a literary classic more family-friendly, but for a kid's movie, it's dark. Frollo is widely regarded as one of the most realistic, and evil, Disney villains and his actions justify that reputation. Quasimodo himself is a sweet character but with very human flaws. I loved it.
Hercules (1997) - A favorite of mine, this tale set in Ancient Greece mimics the animation style of Al Hirschfeld. There's a lot of humor here, and the female lead, Hercules' would-be girlfriend, Meg, is more mature and world-weary than the usual Disney princess; I really enjoy her. There's a bit where Meg does a double-take that almost breaks the fourth wall and I love it.
Mulan (1998) - Mulan is well-loved and "I'll Make a Man out of You" is often called the best Disney song. That's pretty accurate. Mulan herself is charming, smart and resourceful, and the supporting characters are all fun. The battle on the snowy mountain-side is incredible. Mulan is the most popular of this particular group of films, and arguably the best.
Tarzan (1999) - The visuals are lush and beautiful, even for a Disney movie, but the story is a repeat of Pocahontas. There is some fun here, even though the talking animal shtick is a little old by this point, and the story doesn't quite break free of the beats you expect. This movie did inspire a pretty decent Broadway musical.
Fantasia 2000 (2000) - A direct "sequel" to the original Fantasia, this also failed to inspire a series of periodic Fantasia films. I had little idea what to expect and was surprised how much I enjoyed it. Some of that enjoyment was due to a series of celebrities who introduce each segment. Unfortunately, the first host was the best, so each new host was a little disappointing to me, because the first guy never came back. Still, with a much shorter running time than the original, this was worth seeing.
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